A470 Has Clean Sweep to Support Wales’s 6Nations

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is calling on motorists to help tackle roadside litter and help keep our area clean and welcoming to the thousands of visitors that are heading to Cardiff over the next few weeks to support Wales in the six nations.

The Council is responsible for the cleaning of the A470 between Taffs Well and Abercynon, which is one of the busiest ‘A’ roads in Wales and the main route into the Capital city.

Last week and this week the Council’s dedicated Streetcare team carried out one of its periodic ‘clean sweeps’ of the widely used route and collected roadside litter that filled over 450 bags – all of which could easily have been taken home and recycled or disposed of.

These clean-up operations take the Council’s Streetcare team hundreds of hours and are often very dangerous and can sometimes mean disruption for motorists as the team, work alongside this busy highway.

This main route to and from Cardiff is travelled by millions of commuters, visitors, rugby fans and residents alike and is often the first impression that people will see – the Council is urging road users to “make it a lasting one, for the right reasons”.

The Council spends in excess of £50,000 cleaning the 10 mile stretch of highway every year, to ensure that those passing through our County Borough are given the right impression of Rhondda Cynon Taf.

During the latest operation, 7 staff in 1 large road-sweeper, 2 3.5 tippers and 1 4×4 vehicle, swept over 20 tonnes of debris from this stretch of road. This was carried out over a 2 week period at the same time as the South Wales Trunk Road Agency (SWTRA) carried out highways maintenance.

Councillor Ann Crimmings, Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure & Heritage Services, said:

“Litter is an unsightly and unnecessary burden and one that we can easily avoid – that’s why we are asking people to take one simple step towards making the roads a safer and more pleasant environment for everyone. The money and staff resources spent removing the hundreds of sacks of litter from the A470 could be far better spent elsewhere.

“All drivers need to do, is keep a bag in their vehicle to store rubbish and then dispose of it responsibly.”

Roadside litter is not only unsightly but is also a threat to the environment and wildlife and can block drains and cause flooding. For the Council, clearing litter diverts much-needed resources away from essential services, while items thrown from moving vehicles can be a hazard to other road users.

The main problem within Rhondda Cynon Taf appears to be vehicles who pull into lay-by’s and fly tip their waste or those who dangerously throw their unwanted wrapper or cigarette butts from their moving vehicles – this is illegal and those caught will receive a minimum £100 fine or could end up facing criminal proceedings, which could result in thousands of pounds in fines and a criminal record.

For further information on the services provided by the dedicated Streetcare teams call 01443 425001 or visit www.rctcbc.gov.uk/streetcare.